Research and Review

PHARMACOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF DIOICA – AN

EDIBLE

Biren N. Shah1, A. K. Seth2

1.Vidyabharti Trust College of Pharmacy, Umrakh, Gujarat, .

2. Sumandeep Vidyapeeth University, Piperia, Gujarat, India.

E-mail of Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract Roxb. (family: Introduction ), commonly known as The Indian subcontinent represents one “Sespadula” in English and “Parwal” in of the richest diverse genetic resources. Hindi, is widely grown throughout India. Of the estimated 250,000 species of of this plant are used as vegetable flowering at global level, about in Indian traditional food system from 3000 are regarded as food source; out of time immemorial. Besides fruits, other which only 200 species have been parts of the plant, such as the and domesticated. Global diversity in tender , have also been used in the vegetable crops is estimated to be about traditional system of medicine since 400 species of which about 80 species of ancient times. Pointed gourd has been major and minor vegetables are reported used for overcoming problems like to have originated in India. However, constipation, fever, skin infection, with the advent of cut and burn wounds and also improves appetite and agriculture, green digestion. The immature fruits are used revolution/commercialized agriculture, as vegetable and as ingredients of soup, the area development projects and the stew, curry, sweet, or eaten fried and as related activities of these diverse dorma with roe stuffing. The present resources are declining at a fast pace. review describes the morphological and Overgrazing, deforestation and over pharmacological aspects of exploitation of native resources under Trichosanthes dioica and summarizes range situations have eroded the the most interesting findings obtained in biodiversity from this unique ecosystem. the preclinical and clinical research Moreover, our traditional knowledge related to the plant. about these important indigenous plant species has also decreased in the Key words: Trichosanthes dioica, younger generation influenced by Pharmacology, Cucurbitaceae. urbanization. Indigenous plant species provide a variety of products like food, medicines, raw materials and are also an 3 International Journal of Current Research and Review www.ijcrr.com Vol. 02 issue 7 July 2010

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important source of renewable energy. to anthesis time for pistillate flowers and The Indian subcontinent had been one of 10–14 days for staminate flowers. the rich emporia of 2500 plant species Stigma remains viable for approximately used in indigenous treatment and food 14 hours and 40–70% of flowers set sources1. . Based on shape, size and striation, Pointed gourd (cucurbitaceae) is a fruits can be grouped into 4 categories: dioecious perennial herbaceous (1) long, dark green with white stripes, vegetable. The crop is of Indo-Malayan 10–13 cm long, (2) thick, dark green origin and distribution and is extensively with very pale green stripes, 10–16 cm grown in eastern India2 and to a lesser long, (3) roundish, dark green with white extent in other parts of South Asia3. stripe, 5–8 cm long, and (4) tapering, Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. (family: green and striped, 5–8 cm long6. Cucurbitaceae), commonly known as “Sespadula” in English and “Parwal” in Hindi, is widely grown throughout India2. Fruits of this plant are used as vegetable in Indian traditional food system from time immemorial. Besides fruits, other parts of the plant, such as the leaves and tender shoots, have also been used in the traditional system of medicine since ancient times4-6. Some specific medicinal properties have been identified, viz., hypocholesterolemic, hypoglyceridimic, and hypophospholipemic when shade-dried fruits were mixed in the food of Figure 1: Trichosanthes dioica plant. nondiabetic animals4, 7. Most recently, its seeds and leaves have also been found as Pharmacological Property antidiabetic agents by our research Anthelmintic group8, 9. It also serves as a rich source The in vitro activities of defatted of vitamin C4. methanol (MeOH) extract of the leaves from Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. Botany (Cucurbitaceae), and its ethyl acetate The plant is a perennial, dioecious, and (EtOAc) and n-butanol (n-BuOH) grows as a (Fig. 1). Roots are fractions was evaluated against tuberous with long taproot system. Pheretima posthuma (Annelida) and are pencil thick in size with dark green Ascaridia galli (Nematoda). All the cordate simple leaves. Flowers are extracts demonstrated concentration tubular white with 16–19 days initiation dependent paralytic and lethal effects on

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P. posthuma and lethal effects on A. Antioxidant galli. The EtOAc fraction was found to Antioxidants protect the body against be the most potent followed by the oxidative stress by neutralizing free defatted MeOH extract and its n-BuOH radicals. Plants contain rich amount of fraction. A. galli was found to be more polyphenols which are very potent sensitive than P. posthuma against all natural antioxidants. The study was tests extracts indicating T. dioica as an designed to evaluate the relative effective nematocide10. contribution of different polyphenols such as total phenolics, flavonoids and Antihyperglycemic flavonol contents and their antioxidants The study deals with the effect of a activities. For this purpose the total single oral dose of the aqueous extract of phenolics, flavonoids and flavonol Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. contents of some medicinal plants were (Cucurbitaceae) seeds in different determined in the aqueous extracts of diabetic animal models. Evaluation of leaves of Trichosenthes dioica, fruits of the antihyperglycemic effect in normal, Moringa olifera and Ficus bengalensis subdiabetic, and mild diabetic animal as well as seeds of Emblica officinalis. models is based on fasting blood glucose Total antioxidant activity of these (FBG) and glucose tolerance test (GTT) extracts was monitored by Free Radical studies. The graded doses of the extract, Absorbing Power (FRAP) assay. In this viz., 500, 750, 1000, and 1250 mg/kg paper, those parts of the plants are used body weight (b.w.), were administered for the analysis of aforesaid parameters orally. It was found that the blood which are normally overlooked. The glucose concentration decreased in a total phenolic content of T. dioica leaves dose-dependent manner. The dose of was about two times more than that 1000 mg/kg b.w. was found to be most obtained from the fruits and seeds of M. effective with a maximum fall of 30.4% olifera and E. officinalis, respectively. at 6 h during FBG studies in normal rats. However, the aerial roots of F. However, the GTT studies showed the bengalensis registered presence of least maximum reduction of 26.6% at 5 h in phenolic content. The aqueous normal rats. Moreover, in case of sub preparation from E. officinalis exhibited diabetic and mild diabetic rats, the total flavonoid content twice as high as observed reduction in blood glucose that of the other three plants. The extract levels was 32.8% and 35.9%, from seeds of E. officinalis was found to respectively, at 3 h during GTT. The contain highest antioxidant activity as data clearly reveal the significant compared to the preparations from other antihyperglycemic profile of plants. The high antioxidant activity and Trichosanthes dioica seeds8. flavonoids contents in E. officinalis seeds indicated that it could be exploited

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as an ingredient in developing a potential cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and antioxidant supplement11. increased the high density lipoprotein In another study, antioxidant activity of cholesterol, phospholipid and faecal fruits of Trichosanthes dioica sterol levels. Such effects are manifested (Cucurbitaceae) was evaluated and from the very first week of feeding and compared with ascorbic acid (Standard). are statistically significant13. Anti-oxidant activity of aqueous extract of Trichosanthes dioica (TSD) fruits was Cholesterol-Lowering Activity studied for its free radical scavenging This study was to examine the effects of property in different in vitro methods as single and repeated oral administration 1, 1 diphenyl-2- picryl hydrazyl, nitric of the aqueous fruit extract of oxide, reducing power assay and Trichosanthes dioica (TD) at a dose of hydrogen peroxide radical method. 50 ml/kg b.w in normal and Different concentrations of aqueous streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The extract of TSD were prepared and aqueous fruit extracts of TD (50 ml/kg) evaluated by standard methods. The were administered orally for 15 days, to IC50 values of aqueous extract of TSD normal and diabetic rats. The effect of were compared with ascorbic acid the fruit extracts on cholesterol and (Standard) and it was noted that, the triglycerides, were studied. The body extract showed significant concentration weights of the rats were observed. The dependent free radical scavenging effect of the fruit extract was compared property in all the methods. Results from with vanadate, a reference drug. In the study showed that aqueous extract of normal rats, the aqueous fruit extract of TSD possess in vitro free radical TD induced significant decrease of scavenging activity. The findings could plasma cholesterol and triglyceride justify the inclusion of this plant in the concentrations 6hrs after a single oral management of antioxidant activity12. administration (P< 0.05), and also in 2 weeks after repeated oral administrations Blood Sugar, Serum Lipids, (p< 0.05). TD treatment caused Lipoproteins and Faecal Sterols: significant decrease of plasma Effect of oral administration of 2 ml per cholesterol levels after a single day of suspension (in water) of alcoholic administration (p<0.01), and after extract of whole fruit of Trichosanthes repeated (p<0.01) oral administrations. dioica (2%) (= 100 g fresh wt. = 7 g dry Significant increase of triglyceride levels wt. = 1/15 g of alcoholic extract) with was observed 6hrs after a single oral the help of catheter along with basal diet administration of the TD aqueous fruit for four weeks have been studied in the extract (p< 0.01). One week after normal albino rabbits. It was observed repeated oral administration of aqueous that this extract lowered the blood sugar, extract of TD, the plasma triglyceride total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein levels were significantly decreased (p

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<0.005). The decreasing trend continued nondiabetic rats. Whereas in the case of even after 2 weeks (p <0.01). On the subdiabetic and mild diabetic models, other hand, repeated oral administration the same dose showed reduction in BGL of TD aqueous fruit extract, caused of 22.0% and 31.4% during GTT. The significant decrease of body weight after study also involves the first use of laser- 2 weeks of treatment in both normal (p induced breakdown spectroscopy as a <0.001) and diabetic (p <0.01) rats. The sensitive analytical tool to detect the study indicates that the aqueous fruit elemental profile responsible for the extract of TD exhibits cholesterol and antidiabetic activity of aqueous extract body weight-lowering activities in both of T. dioica fruits that exhibits the normal and hyperglycaemic rats14. antidiabetic activity. High intensities of Ca, Mg, and Fe indicate large Antidiabetic concentrations of these elements in the In rats with streptozotocin induced extract, since according to Boltzmann‟s severe diabetes mellitus, aqueous extract distribution law, intensities are directly of Trichosanthes dioica fruits at a dose proportional to concentrations. The of 1000mg/kg body weight daily once higher concentrations of these glycemic for 28 days reduced the levels of fasting elements, viz. Ca, Mg, and Fe, are blood glucose, postprandial glucose, responsible for the antidiabetic potential asparate amino transferase, alanine of T. dioica as well as other plant amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, already reported by our research group16. creatinine, urine sugar and urine protein where as total protein and body weight Antipyretic was increased. No toxic effect was Sudarshan churna is very potent observed during LD5015. Ayurvedic preparation, which is used The scientific evaluation of the traditionally as antimalarial and antidiabetic efficacy of aqueous extract antipyretic formulation. Swertia chirata of Trichosanthes dioica fruits on and Trichosanthes dioica is key streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats is ingredient in Sudarshan churna. The being presented. The graded doses of the purpose of study was to evaluate extract, viz., 500, 750, 1,000, and 1,250 antipyretic activity of Sudharshan mg/kg body weight (bw), were churna. Aqueous extracts of Sudarshan administered orally, and it was observed churna was evaluated for antipyretic that the blood glucose concentration activity using two models including decreased in a dose-dependent manner. hyperpyrexia-induced in rats by brewer‟s The dose of 1,000 mg/kg bw showed the yeast and another one hyperpyrexia maximum fall of 23.8% and 19.1% in induced in rabbits by Typhoid- blood glucose level (BGL) during Paratyphoid A, B vaccine. Like fasting BGL and glucose tolerance test Paracetamol (100 mg/kg, p.o.), (GTT) studies, respectively, of Sudarshan churna, showed significant

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reduction in elevated body temperature in rats. The effect produced by the at 200 mg/kg, p.o. On the basis of study, extract ointment showed significant it was concluded that aqueous extract of healing when compared with the control Sudarshan churna has shown significant and standard groups. All parameters antipyretic activity17. such as wound contraction, epithelialization period, hydroxyproline Glycemic property content, and histopathological studies This study was to screen the glycemic were observed significant (P<0.01) in attributes of an aqueous extract of comparison to control group18. Trichosanthes dioica leaves in normal as well as various diabetic models. The Hepatoprotective variable doses of 250, 500, and 750 The study was carried out to assess the mg/kg body weight (bw) of the extract potential of Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. were administered orally to normal and (TD) as a hepatoprotective agent in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced sub- and ferrous sulphate (FeSO4) intoxicated mild-diabetic rats in order to define its rats. Liver damage was induced in glycemic potential. The dose of 500 Wistar rats by administering ferrous mg/kg bw was identified as the most sulphate (30 mg/kg, p.o) on 10th day. effective dose which brings down the Ethanolic and Aqueous extracts of TD at blood glucose level (BGL) by 32.9% (P different doses (100, 200 and 400 < 0.001) at 6 h during fasting blood mg/kg) and silymarin (100 mg/kg) were glucose (FBG) studies in normal rats. administered orally for 10 days. TD- However, glucose tolerance test (GTT) 200e showed decrease in the levels of showed the maximum reduction of AST (p<0.01), ALT, TB, ALP and 30.9% (P < 0.001) in BGL at 5 h in increase in TP (p<0.05). TD-200a normal rats with the same dose, whereas showed significant decrease in the levels the reduction observed was by 40.3% of AST, ALT, TB, ALP and increase in and 88.6% (P < 0.001) in sub- and mild- TP levels. The groups treated with 400 diabetic rats, respectively, at 3 h of mg/kg aqueous and ethanolic extract glucose administration only. This showed significant (p<0.01) reduction in evidence clearly indicates that the AST, ALT, ALP, TB and increase in TP aqueous extract of Trichosanthes dioica level. The pretreatment with TD extracts leaves has good hypoglycemic potential showed profound histopathological along with a high anti-diabetic profile9. protection to liver cells as evident from histopathological studies. Hence it can Burn Wound Healing be concluded that Trichosanthes dioica The methanolic extract of the plant was Roxb. has significant hepatoprotective selected for assessment of healing activity19. potential in the form of simple ointment using full thickness burn wound model

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Conclusion 3. J.B. Mythili, Pious Thomas. Trichosanthes dioica is a well-known Micropropagation of pointed gourd plant used in the Indian system of (Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.) medicine, besides which folklore Scientia Horticulturae 1999; 79: 87- medicine also claims its uses especially 90. in diabetics and hepatic diseases, etc. 4. Sharma, G., and M.C. Pant. Effects Trichosanthes dioica fruit is cultivated of feeding Trichosanthes dioica in India, Japan, Sri Lanka, China, and (parval) on blood glucose, serum Thailand for its vegetable use. Presently triglyceride, phospholipid, there is an increasing interest worldwide cholesterol, and high density in herbal medicines accompanied by lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in the increased laboratory investigation into normal albino rabbit. Current Sci. the pharmacological properties of the 1988; 57:1085–1087. bioactive ingredients and their ability to 5. Sharma G, Sarkar A, Pachori SB, treat various diseases. Numerous drugs Pant MC. Biochemical evaluation of have entered the international market raw Trichosanthes dioica whole fruit through exploration of and pulp in normal and mild- ethnopharmacology and traditional diabetic human volunteers in relation medicine. Although scientific studies to lipid profile. Ind Drug 1989; 27: have been carried out on a large number 24–28. of Indian botanicals, a considerably 6. Singh, K. Pointed gourd smaller number of marketable drugs or (Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.). Indian phytochemical entities have entered the Hort. 1989; 33: 35–38. evidence-based therapeutics. Efforts are 7. S.K. Mukharjee, Indian scenario therefore needed to establish and (Abstract-11), 2–4 September, validate evidence regarding safety and Varanasi, India (1996). practices of Ayurvedic medicines. 8. Prashant Kumar Rai a; Dolly Jaiswal a; Sandhya Diwakar b; Geeta Watal References Antihyperglycemic Profile of 1. M. L. Chadha. Indigenous Trichosanthes dioica Seeds in Vegetables of India with a Potential Experimental Models. for Improving Livelihoods. Pharmaceutical Biology 2008; 46(5): International Symposium on 360–365. Underutilized Plants for Food 9. Prashant Kumar Rai, Dolly Jaiswal, Security, Nutrition, Income and Rakesh Kumar Singh, Rajesh Kumar Sustainable Development 2009; 2: 1- Gupta, and Geeta Watal. Glycemic 8. Properties of Trichosanthes dioica 2. Chakravarthy, H.M., 1982. Fascicles Leaves. Pharmaceutical Biology of flora of India - 11 Cucurbitaceae. 2008; 46(12): 894–899. Botanical Survey of India, p. 136.

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10. Sanjib Bhattacharya, Pallab Kanti and Geeta Watal. Effect of water Haldar, Ashoke Kumar Ghosh. In extract of Trichosanthes dioica fruits vitro effects of Trichosanthes dioica in streptozotocin induced diabetic leaves on annelids and nematodes. rats. Indian Journal of Clinical Pharmacologyonline 2009; 2: 242- Biochemistry 2008; 23 (4): 387-390. 248. 16. Prashant Kumar Rai & Sanjukta 11. Ratnesh K Sharma, Sanjukta Chatterji & Nilesh K. Rai & Chatterji, Devendra K Rai, Shikha Awadhesh K. Rai & Dane Bicanic & Mehta, Prashant K Rai, Rakesh K Geeta Watal. The Glycemic Singh, Geeta Watal and Bechan Elemental Profile of Trichosanthes Sharma. Antioxidant activities and dioica: A LIBS-Based Study. Food phenolic contents of the aqueous Biophysics 2010; 5: 17–23. extracts of some Indian medicinal 17. Sushil Bhargava, Paridhi Bhargava, plants. Journal of Medicinal Plants Surendra Saraf, Ravindra Pandey, Research 2009; Vol. 3(11): 944-948. Shiv Shankar Sukla and Rajesh 12. Yogesh Shivhare, Priya Singh, Rajak Garg. Evaluation of antipyretic H., Patil U.K., Pawar R.S. activity of sudarshan churna: an Antioxidant potential of ayurvedic formulation J. Res. Educ. Trichosanthes dioica Roxb (fruits). Indian Med. 2008; 11-14. Pharmacognosy Journal 2009; Vol 18. Yogesh Shivhare, Priya Singh and 1(4): 258-262. UK Patil. Healing Potential of 13. Govind Sherma and M.C. Pant. Trichosanthes dioica Roxb on Burn Influence of alcoholic extract of Wounds. Research Journal of whole fruit of Trichosanthes dioica Pharmacology and on blood sugar, serum lipids, Pharmacodynamics 2010; 02(02): lipoproteins and faecal sterols in 168-171. normal albino rabbits. Indian Journal 19. Ghaisas MM, Tanwar MB, Ninave of Clinical Biochemistry 1992; 7: PB, Navghare VV, Takawale AR, 53-56. Zope VS, Deshpande AD. 14. Sharmila Banu G, Kumar G, Hepatoprotective activity of aqueous Rajasekara Pandian M. Cholesterol- and ethanolic extract of Lowering Activity of the Aqueous Trichosanthes dioica roxb. in ferrous Fruit Extract of Trichosanthes dioica sulphate-induced liver injury. Roxb (L.) in Normal and Pharmacologyonline 2008; 3: 127- Streptozotocin Diabetic Rats. Journal 135. of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2007; 1(6): 561-569. 15. Prashant Kumar Rai, Dolly Jaiswal, Devendra K. Rai, Bechan Sharma

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